Sebastian narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on Malcolm. "You're sure about this?"
Malcolm didn't respond, but Nicholas stepped in immediately. "I'll prove it to you."
He poured a cup of scalding hot water from a nearby thermos, then grabbed Liana's hand and pressed it against the glass.
"Ah! That's hot!" Liana instantly shot up from the bed. The moment she realized what had happened, panic filled her eyes as she looked toward Sebastian. What greeted her was a cold, emotionless stare.
"You were faking it?" Sebastian asked.
A wave of fear rose in Liana's chest, and she silently cursed Nicholas a thousand times. She rushed to grab Sebastian's hand in desperation. "No, Sebastian, please. Let me explain."
Sebastian didn't pull away but just stared at her with a piercing, icy gaze that seemed to cut right through her. An overwhelming sense of dread crushed down on her. His voice was colder than ever, devoid of warmth. "Go on. Explain."
"I… I…" Liana opened her mouth, but no explanation came. What could she say? That she hadn't faked it? That she had actually fainted? Tears rolled down her cheeks without warning. She looked at him with pitiful, trembling eyes.
"Sebastian, I love you. I just love you. That's not a crime."
Nicholas sneered from the side, "Being a homewrecker isn't your fault, and neither is faking illness. Stirring up drama isn't your fault either. You use love as an excuse to hurt another innocent woman. How dare you say you've done nothing wrong?"
"She deserves it!" Liana screamed. "Sebastian has never loved her. He has always looked down on her. She's the one who keeps throwing herself at him. Can't she see he doesn't care about her? If it weren't for that so-called life-saving favor she used to tie him down, do you think he would've ever gotten together with her? She doesn't deserve him!"
"Enough!" Sebastian's dark eyes blazed with fury. The warmth in them had long since vanished.
Nicholas stormed out with Malcolm, and the spacious hospital ward was left with only Sebastian and Liana. It was so quiet that they could hear a pin drop.
Sebastian's cold gaze landed on Liana's face. "Liana, does it feel good to have me dance in the palm of your hand?"
Liana burst into tears, shaking her head. "No… It's not like that, Sebastian…"
Sebastian rose to his feet, his tall figure moving toward the door.
"Liana, from today onward, I won't concern myself with you again. Don't show up in front of me. If you do, whatever I've given you, I'll make sure you lose it all—twice over."
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